Specially protected natural areas of Russia. Protected areas are specially protected natural areas
3.Specially protected natural areas (specially protected areas)
Protected areas and tourism. State nature reserves. National and natural parks. State nature reserves. Natural monuments. Dendrological parks and botanical gardens. Medical and recreational areas and resorts. Ecological tourism.
Specially protected natural areas (SPNA) are objects of national heritage and are areas of land, water surface and air space above them where natural complexes and objects are located that have special environmental, scientific, cultural, aesthetic, recreational and health value, which withdrawn by decisions of state authorities in whole or in part from economic use and for which a special protection regime has been established.
To specially protected natural areas (SPNA) include: nature reserves, natural monuments, protected forest areas, national parks, nature reserves. The main purpose of these territories is the protection of valuable natural objects: botanical, zoological, hydrological, geological, complex, landscape.
According to estimates from leading international organizations, at the end of the 90s there were about 10 thousand large protected natural areas of all types in the world. The total number of national parks was close to 2000, and biosphere reserves - to 350.
Specially protected natural areas are important in the natural recreational potential of Russia. Taking into account the peculiarities of the regime and status of the environmental institutions located on them, the following categories of these territories are usually distinguished:
§ state natural reserves, including biosphere reserves;
§ national parks;
§ natural parks;
§ state nature reserves;
§ natural monuments;
§ dendrological parks and botanical gardens;
§ medical and recreational areas and resorts.
Protected areas may have federal, regional or local significance . Protected areas of federal significance are federal property and are under the jurisdiction of federal government bodies. SPNAs of regional significance are the property of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and are under the jurisdiction of state authorities of the constituent entities of the Federation. PAs of local importance are the property of municipalities and are under the jurisdiction of local governments.
State nature reserves are environmental, research and environmental educational institutions aimed at preserving and studying the natural course of natural processes and phenomena, the genetic fund of flora and fauna, individual species and communities of plants and animals, typical and unique ecological systems.
These reserves are the most traditional and strict form of territorial nature protection in Russia, which has priority importance for the conservation of biological diversity.
On the territory of the reserves, specially protected natural complexes and objects (land, water, subsoil, flora and fauna) of environmental, scientific, environmental and educational significance as examples of the natural environment, typical or rare landscapes, places of conservation of genetic fund of flora and fauna.
Reserves– environmental institutions, the territory or water area of which includes natural complexes and objects of unique environmental value, intended for use for environmental, scientific and educational purposes.
Unlike national parks, nature reserves have very limited recreational use, mostly educational only. This is reflected in the functional zoning of the reserves. In particular, there are 4 main zones:
· a protected area in which flora and fauna develop without human intervention;
· scientific monitoring zone, in which the reserve's scientists monitor the condition and development of protected natural objects;
· an environmental education zone, where the nature museum of the reserve is usually located and strictly regulated paths are laid along which groups of tourists are led to become familiar with the natural features of the complex;
· economic and administrative zone.
National parks are environmental, environmental, educational and research institutions, the territories (water areas) of which include natural complexes and objects of special ecological, historical and aesthetic value, and which are intended for use for environmental, educational, scientific and cultural purposes and regulated tourism.
Abroad, national parks are the most popular type of protected areas. In particular, in the USA, the history of the creation of some parks goes back more than a hundred years.
The task of national parks, along with their environmental function, is to create conditions for regulated tourism and recreation in natural conditions.
Consequently, in the most conventional version, 4 functional zones are distinguished on the territory of any national park:
· a protected zone, within which all recreational and economic activities are prohibited;
· zone of reserved regime – preservation of natural objects with strictly regulated recreational use;
· educational tourism zone – organization of environmental education and familiarization with the sights of the park;
· zone of recreational use, including areas for recreation, sports and amateur hunting and fishing.
Natural parks of regional significance – a relatively new category of protected areas in Russia. They are environmental recreational institutions under the jurisdiction of the constituent entities of the Federation, the territories (water areas) of which include natural complexes and objects of significant environmental and aesthetic value, and intended for use for environmental, educational and recreational purposes. Parks are located on lands granted to them for indefinite (permanent) use, and in some cases - on lands of other users, as well as owners.
One of the most “massive” categories of specially protected natural areas are state natural reserves, which exist in almost all regions of the Russian Federation. Declaring a territory as a state nature reserve is permitted both with and without withdrawal from users, owners and possessors of land plots.
State nature reserves are territories (water areas) that are of particular importance for the preservation or restoration of natural complexes or their components and maintaining the ecological balance.
State nature reserves can be of federal or regional significance and have a different profile. Landscape reserves are designed to preserve and restore natural complexes (natural landscapes); biological (botanical and zoological) – conservation and restoration of rare and endangered species of plants and animals (including economically, scientifically and culturally valuable species); paleontological – preservation of fossil objects; hydrological (marsh, lake, river, sea) – conservation and restoration of valuable water bodies and ecological systems; geological – preservation of valuable objects and complexes of inanimate nature.
Natural monuments – unique, irreplaceable, ecologically, scientifically, culturally and aesthetically valuable natural complexes, as well as objects of natural and artificial origin.
Areas of land and water, as well as single natural objects, can be declared natural monuments.
Natural monuments may have federal, regional or local significance, depending on the environmental, aesthetic and other value of the protected natural complexes and objects.
Russian legislation identifies another category of protected natural areas – dendrological parks and botanical gardens. These are predominantly urban and suburban facilities created for educational, scientific and only partially recreational purposes.
Botanical gardens and dendrological parks carry out the introduction of plants of natural flora, study their ecology and biology under stationary conditions, develop the scientific foundations of ornamental gardening, landscape architecture, landscaping, introduce wild plants into cultivation, protect introduced plants from pests and diseases, and also develop methods and techniques for selection and agricultural technology for the creation of sustainable decorative displays, the principles of organizing artificial phytocenoses and the use of introduced plants to optimize the technogenic environment.
Dendrological parks and botanical gardens can be of federal or regional significance and are formed accordingly by decisions of the executive bodies of state power of the Russian Federation or representative and executive bodies of state power of the relevant subjects of the Federation.
You can become familiar with the types and forms of recreational use of specially protected natural areas in detail by studying the textbook excerpts from articles covering this issue presented below.
HEALTH AND HEALTH AREAS- specially protected natural sites, which, in accordance with the Federal Law “On Specially Protected Natural Territories” dated March 14, 1995, may include territories (water areas) suitable for organizing the treatment and prevention of diseases, as well as recreation for the population and possessing natural healing resources (mineral waters, healing mud, brine of estuaries and lakes, healing climate, beaches, parts of water areas and inland seas, other natural objects and conditions). RESORT - a specially protected natural area developed and used for therapeutic and preventive purposes, which has natural healing resources and the buildings and structures necessary for their operation, including infrastructure facilities (Federal Law “On natural healing resources, medical and recreational areas and resorts” dated February 23, 1995 .).
There are distinctions between municipalities of local significance (under the jurisdiction of local government bodies), municipalities of regional significance (under the jurisdiction of the state authority of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation), and municipalities of federal significance (under the jurisdiction of federal government bodies).
Types of institutions: sanatoriums, holiday homes, boarding houses, resort clinics, resort. hotels, treatment hotels.
Main types of resorts:
Balneotherapeutic (min. water)
Mud (therapeutic mud)
Climatic (forest, seaside, mountain, climate-kumyso - medicinal)
!!!See the table with resorts in your tour notebook. resources in seminars!!!
Eco-tourism(especially in the form of biosphere ecotourism) is the most environmentally friendly type of environmental management. Within its framework, knowledge can follow either the educational process or simply familiarization. The difference between the first type of knowledge and the second is that the educational process is associated with the targeted and thematic acquisition of information about the elements of the ecosystem, and the educational process is associated with non-professional observation of nature. Familiarization can take place in passive (stationary presence in the natural environment), active (associated with the tourist’s transitions from one natural object of interest to another) and sports (overcoming natural obstacles while walking routes) forms.
Therefore, it is necessary to define ecotourism as an activity based on the following principles:
Ø Journey into nature, and the main content of such trips is acquaintance with living nature, as well as with local customs and culture.
Ø Minimizing negative consequences of an environmental and socio-cultural nature, maintaining environmental sustainability of the environment.
Ø Promoting the protection of nature and the local socio-cultural environment.
Ø Environmental education and awareness.
Ø Participation of local residents and their receipt of income from tourism activities, which creates economic incentives for them to protect nature.
Ø Economic efficiency and contribution to the sustainable development of the regions visited.
These signs are indicated as fundamental for ecotourism by recognized authorities in this field - N.V. Moraleva and E.Yu. Ledovskikh, participants of the Dersu Uzala Ecotourism Development Fund.
4.Cultural and historical tourist resources.
Concept, essence. Material and spiritual cultural and historical objects.
material- all means of production and material assets of society (historical and cultural monuments, enterprises of all sectors of the national economy) that can satisfy the cognitive needs of people;
spiritual- achievements of society in state and public life, science, culture, art.
In the complex of recreational resources, a special place is occupied by cultural and historical resources, which represent the legacy of past eras of social development. They serve as a prerequisite for organizing cultural and educational types of recreational activities; on this basis, they optimize recreational activities as a whole, performing quite serious educational functions. The spaces formed by cultural and historical objects to a certain extent determine the localization of recreational flows and the directions of excursion routes.
Among cultural and historical sites the leading role belongs to historical and cultural monuments, which are most attractive and, on this basis, serve as the main means of satisfying the needs of educational and cultural recreation. Depending on their main features, historical and cultural monuments are divided into 5 main types: history, archaeology, urban planning and architecture, art, and documentary monuments.
HISTORICAL MONUMENTS. These may include buildings, structures, memorable places and objects associated with the most important historical events in the life of the people, as well as with the development of science and technology, culture and life of peoples, with the life of outstanding people of the state.
ARCHEOLOGICAL MONUMENTS. These are fortifications, mounds, remains of ancient settlements, fortifications, industries, canals, roads, ancient burial places, stone sculptures, rock carvings, ancient objects, areas of the historical cultural layer of ancient settlements.
MONUMENTS OF URBAN PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE. The following objects are most characteristic of them: architectural ensembles and complexes, historical centers, neighborhoods, squares, streets, remains of ancient planning and development of cities and other settlements, buildings of civil, industrial, military, religious architecture, folk architecture, as well as related ones works of monumental, fine, decorative and applied art, landscape art, suburban landscapes.
ART MONUMENTS. These include works of monumental, fine, decorative and applied art and other types of art.
DOCUMENTARY MONUMENTS. These are acts of government and administrative bodies, other written and graphic documents, film, photo and sound recordings, as well as ancient and other manuscripts and archives, recordings of folklore and music, and rare printed publications.
To cultural and historical The prerequisites of the recreational industry include other objects related to history, culture and modern human activity: original enterprises of industry, agriculture, transport, theaters, scientific and educational institutions, sports facilities, botanical gardens, zoos, ethnographic and folklore attractions, handicrafts , folk customs, holiday rituals, etc.
All objects used in educational and cultural recreation are divided into 2 groups - movable and immovable.
The first group consists of monuments of art, archaeological finds, mineralogical, botanical and zoological collections, documentary monuments and other things, objects and documents that can be easily moved. The consumption of recreational resources by this group is associated with visits to museums, libraries and archives, where they are usually concentrated.
The second group includes monuments of history, urban planning and architecture, archeology and monumental art and other structures, including those monuments of art that form an integral part of architecture. From the standpoint of cognitive and cultural recreation, it is important that the objects of this group are independent single or group formations.
The next, more important stage in the assessment of cultural and historical objects is their typology according to recreational significance.
The basis of the typology is the informational essence of cultural and historical objects: uniqueness, typicality among objects of a given type, cognitive and educational significance, attractiveness (external attractiveness).
Information content cultural and historical sites for recreational purposes can be measured by the amount of necessary and sufficient time for their inspection. To determine the time of inspection of an object, it is necessary to classify the object on a basis that would reflect the duration of the inspection.
You can choose 2 classification criteria:
degree of organization of the object for display
the location of the tourists in relation to the object of inspection.
According to the degree of organization, objects are divided into specially organized and unorganized for display.
Organized objects require more inspection time, since they are the purpose of the inspection and form the basis of the excursion. Unorganized objects serve as a general plan accompanying the excursion, a background that is covered at one glance without a detailed examination.
According to the location of the tourists, the objects are divided into
interior (internal inspection of the facility)
Exterior (external inspection of the facility). The total time for inspecting exterior objects is always longer than the time for inspecting interior objects (perhaps with the exception of museums and some other repositories of historical values).
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL MONUMENTS AND THEIR VARIETIES
Monuments of religious architecture. Monuments of religious architecture are the most ancient that have survived to our time. These are churches and monasteries of various denominations (religions): Orthodox churches, Catholic cathedrals, Lutheran churches, Jewish synagogues, Buddhist pagodas, Muslim mosques.
Now, during the period of revival of religiosity, pilgrimages are becoming very relevant. Travel to religious complexes can be carried out by different groups for different purposes. There are several forms of such travel.
Monuments of secular architecture. Monuments of secular architecture include urban development - civil and industrial, as well as country palace and park ensembles. Of the most ancient buildings, the kremlins and boyars' chambers have survived to this day. Urban architecture is usually represented by palace buildings, administrative buildings (public places, shopping arcades, noble and merchant meetings, houses of governors), buildings of theaters, libraries, universities and hospitals, which were often built with funds from patrons of the arts according to the designs of famous architects. Since the formation of the Yamsk road race for royalty, postal stations and travel palaces have been revived, which are now part of the cities or stand along old roads. Industrial architecture includes factory buildings, mines, quarries and other structures. Country architecture is represented by estates and palace and park ensembles, such as, for example, Petrodvorets and Pavlovsk in the vicinity of St. Petersburg, Arkhangelskoye and others in the Moscow region.
Archaeological sites. Archaeological sites include villages, burial mounds, rock paintings, earthworks, ancient quarries, mines, as well as the remains of ancient civilizations and excavations from the earliest periods. Archaeological sites are of interest to specialists - historians and archaeologists. Tourists are mainly attracted by rock paintings, inspection of exposed archaeological layers, as well as archaeological exhibitions.
Ethnographic monuments. The ethnographic heritage involved in tourist routes is represented by two types. These are either museum exhibitions in local history museums, museums of folk life and wooden architecture, or existing settlements that have preserved the features of traditional forms of management, cultural life and rituals inherent in the area.
Ethnographic monuments classified as cultural heritage according to the following criteria: uniqueness and originality of ethnocultural and sociocultural conditions; compact residence of small peoples and old-timers, where traditional ways of life, customs and forms of environmental management are most fully preserved.
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL POTENTIAL AND METHODOLOGY FOR ITS ASSESSMENT
Historical and cultural potential is the basis of educational tourism. It is represented by various types of historical monuments, memorial sites, folk crafts, museums, that is, combinations of objects of material and spiritual culture.
Cultural heritage is the legacy of the historical development of civilization that has accumulated in a given territory.
Each era leaves its mark, which is discovered in cultural layers during archaeological excavations. Almost every area can be of interest for educational tourism. But places where people lived for a long time keep more traces of material culture.
In historical and cultural potential includes the entire sociocultural environment with traditions and customs, features of everyday and economic activities. Tourists, visiting a particular country, perceive cultural complexes as a whole.
The assessment of cultural complexes for recreational purposes is carried out using two main methods:
1) ranking cultural complexes according to their place in world and domestic culture. It is carried out by expert means: objects of global, federal, regional and local significance are established;
2) necessary and sufficient time for inspection. This method allows you to compare different territories according to the prospects of their historical and cultural potential for tourism.
For cultural complexes, as well as for natural ones, important characteristics are reliability and capacity.
The reliability of cultural complexes is determined by two factors: resistance to recreational loads and the stability of its compliance with the value criteria formed among the population.
The first factor determines how much tourist flow a given cultural complex can withstand. This is especially important for museums, where it is necessary to maintain a certain temperature and humidity regime to preserve exhibits. An urgent issue is the use of modern technical means to increase the resistance of cultural complexes to recreational loads and the regulation of the flow of tourists.
The second factor is related to the long-term interest of tourists in a given cultural site. Their interest in world heritage sites remains stable (Egyptian pyramids, ancient architecture of Athens, architectural and historical-cultural monuments of Paris, St. Petersburg, etc.).
The capacity of a cultural complex is determined by the duration of the period during which tourists can perceive the information contained in it, and depends on two factors: the attractiveness of the object of inspection and the psychophysiological capabilities of a person, which are distinguished by significant individuality and have a certain limit.
In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation "On Specially Protected Natural Territories of the Russian Federation" dated October 2, 1992. the preservation and development of specially protected natural areas is one of the priority directions of the state environmental policy of Russia.
Specially protected natural areas are areas of land, water surface and air space above them, where natural complexes and objects are located that have special environmental, scientific, cultural, aesthetic, recreational and health value, withdrawn by decisions of state authorities in whole or in part from economic use , relating to objects of public domain.
Currently, Russia has fairly developed legislation on specially protected natural areas. Along with the Land Code of the Russian Federation of 2001. and the Law “On Environmental Protection” of 2002. The development of the system of specially protected natural areas and their conservation are regulated by the Federal Law “On Specially Protected Natural Areas” of March 14, 1995, the Federal Law “On Natural Healing Resources, Medical and Health Areas and Resorts” of February 23, 1995, and other regulations.
The legislation distinguishes the following types of specially protected natural areas:
state natural reserves, including biosphere reserves;
national parks;
natural parks;
state nature reserves;
natural monuments;
dendrological parks and botanical gardens;
medical and recreational areas and resorts.
Specially protected natural areas may have federal, regional or local significance. The territories of state natural reserves and national parks are considered territories of federal significance. Territories of state reserves, natural monuments, dendrological parks and botanical gardens, medical and recreational areas and resorts can have either federal or regional significance. Medical and recreational areas and resorts may also have local significance.
In order to protect specially protected natural areas from the adverse effects of human activity, protective zones are created on adjacent areas of land and water. Within these zones, the regime of economic activity is regulated.
State nature reserves have the highest status and, accordingly, the strictest legal regime of protection. Commandment is a Russian word that has three interrelated meanings: inviolable, forbidden, bequeathed.
The reserve regime is divided into three types: absolute, relative, mixed.
The regime of absolute conservation is inherent in natural reserves and natural monuments.
It excludes economic, recreational activities and any interference in the course of natural processes if it is not compatible with the goals and objectives of the conservation regime of a given natural object or natural complex, which, in particular, are:
conservation of biological diversity and maintenance of protected natural complexes in their natural state;
conducting environmental monitoring, including through maintaining the Chronicle of Nature;
conducting scientific research;
assistance in training scientific personnel and specialists in the field of nature conservation;
promotion of environmental knowledge;
participation in the state environmental assessment of construction projects, reconstruction and expansion of economic facilities, as well as schemes for their location and development in a given region.
Within state natural reserves, plots of land, its subsoil and water space with all natural objects located within their boundaries are transferred to the reserves for free, indefinite (permanent) use.
Within the territory (water area) of state natural reserves the following is prohibited:
exploration work and development of mineral resources, disturbance of soil cover, mineral outcrops, rock outcrops;
final felling, harvesting of resin, tree sap, medicinal plants and technical raw materials, as well as other types of forest management, except for specially provided cases;
haymaking, grazing, placement of beehives and apiaries, collection and preparation of wild fruits, berries, mushrooms, nuts, flower seeds and other types of use of flora, except for specially provided cases;
construction and placement of industrial and agricultural enterprises and their individual facilities, construction of buildings and structures, roads and overpasses, power lines and other communications, with the exception of those necessary to ensure the activities of nature reserves;
commercial, sport and amateur hunting, other types of use of wildlife, with the exception of specially provided cases;
introduction of plants and animals for the purpose of their acclimatization;
use of mineral fertilizers and chemical plant protection products;
timber rafting;
transit of pets;
passage of motor vehicles outside public roads and waterways;
presence, travel and passage of unauthorized persons off roads and public paths;
collection of zoological, botanical and mineralogical collections, except for those provided for by the themes and plans of scientific research in reserves;
flight of airplanes and helicopters below 2000 meters above land and water without coordination with the reserve or environmental regulatory authorities, as well as overcoming the sound barrier by airplanes over the territory of the reserve;
other activities that disrupt the natural development of natural processes, threaten the state of natural complexes and objects, and are also not related to the implementation of the tasks assigned to the reserve (Article 61 of the 1991 Law).
The state nature reserve is established by decree of the Government of the Russian Federation. This occurs subject to the consent of the subject of the Russian Federation to classify its territory as federal property. The decision to establish a reserve is made upon the proposal of government bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and specially authorized state bodies of Russia in the field of environmental protection (Article 8 of the Law “On Specially Protected Natural Territories”).
State natural reserves, which are part of the international system of biosphere reserves that carry out global environmental monitoring, have the status of state natural biosphere reserves.
State nature reserves are legal entities. These are non-profit organizations created in the form of an environmental institution. They are financed from the federal budget (Article 11).
The relatively reserved regime is built on a combination of absolute prohibitions with the assumption of limited exploitation of natural resources and recreation. This feature corresponds to the organization and activity of numerous forms of customized regime - hunting, botanical, biological, paleontological, hydrological, geological, medicinal, landscape, recreational and similar reserves.
The objectives of declaring natural complexes as state nature reserves are:
preservation of natural complexes in their natural state;
conservation, reproduction and restoration of natural resources;
maintaining ecological balance.
On the territory of state natural reserves and their individual sections the following may be completely or partially, permanently or temporarily (including at certain times of the year) prohibited or limited:
plowing of land;
final felling and other types of felling, harvesting resin, haymaking, grazing livestock, harvesting and collecting mushrooms, berries, nuts, fruits, seeds, medicinal and other plants, other types of use of flora;
commercial, sport and amateur hunting and fishing, harvesting of marine mammals and aquatic invertebrates, other types of use of wildlife;
collection of zoological, botanical and mineralogical collections, as well as paleontological objects;
provision of land for development, as well as for collective gardening and vegetable gardening;
carrying out drainage and irrigation works, geological surveys and mineral development;
construction of buildings and structures, roads and pipelines, power lines and other communications;
the use of pesticides, mineral fertilizers, chemical plant protection products with growth stimulants;
timber rafting;
blasting;
location, travel and passage of citizens, motor vehicles, ships and other watercraft, arrangement of halts, bivouacs, tourist stops and camps, other forms of recreation for the population;
any other types of economic activity, recreational and other nature use that impede the conservation, restoration and reproduction of natural complexes and objects (Article 62 of the 1991 Law).
State nature reserves may have federal or regional significance. Nature reserves of federal significance are created by decisions of the Government of the Russian Federation. The basis for such a decision is the representation of the executive authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and specially authorized state environmental authorities. Wildlife sanctuaries of regional significance are created by decisions of the executive bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation after the issue has been agreed upon with the relevant local government bodies. Declaring a territory as a state nature reserve is permitted both with and without seizure of land plots from their users, owners and owners.
A mixed regime is observed in the practice of organizing national natural parks, where protected areas are created, operating on the principles of an absolute ban on interference in natural processes, passive and active recreation areas, where a natural reserve regime is used, combining methods of prohibitions and permits for a limited range of activities in the field of environmental management. In Russia, the first national park of the Russian Federation (“Sochi”) was formed in 1983.
National natural parks are assigned the following tasks:
preservation of historical, cultural and other cultural heritage sites;
creating conditions for regulated eco-tourism and recreation in natural conditions;
organization of environmental education of the population;
development and implementation of scientific methods for the protection of natural and cultural heritage.
On the territory of national natural parks, any activity that threatens the existence of natural, historical and cultural complexes and objects is prohibited, including:
construction of new, operation of existing enterprises and facilities, as well as other types of activities not related to the activities of the park, violating the integrity of its natural complexes or entailing the depletion of natural resources, reducing the aesthetic value of the territory, geological exploration and mining;
actions that change the hydrological regime;
construction of main roads, pipelines, power lines and other communications not related to the functioning of national natural parks;
organization of mass sports and entertainment events;
introduction of plants and animals alien to the local flora and fauna;
final felling and harvesting of resin (Article 63 of the 1991 Law).
National natural parks are legal entities, are supported by the state budget, are on an independent balance sheet, have accounts, including foreign currency, in Russian bank institutions and have seals with the image of the state emblem of the Russian Federation and with their name. They are exempt from paying for land and other natural resources.
A differentiated regime of protection and use is established on the territory of national natural parks, taking into account local natural, historical, cultural and social characteristics.
In national natural parks located in areas inhabited by indigenous people, zones of traditional extensive nature management that do not destroy the environment and biological resources can be identified.
National parks are formed in the same order as state nature reserves.
Natural monuments are unique, irreplaceable, ecologically, scientifically, culturally and aesthetically valuable natural complexes. They can be of federal or regional significance and are established by decisions of the Government of Russia and the executive bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.
Territories of natural monuments, in accordance with the law, can be confiscated from the owners, possessors and users of the corresponding land plots (Article 26). In the territories where natural monuments are located and within the boundaries of their protection zones, any activity that entails or may entail a violation of the preservation of natural monuments is prohibited. The owners, possessors and users of land plots on which natural monuments are located are charged by law with the obligation to ensure a regime of special protection of natural monuments.
In contrast to the Law “On Environmental Protection” of 1991. Law 2002 indicates a regime of special protection of rare and endangered plants, animals and other organisms (Article 60), rare and endangered soils (Article 62) and the green fund of urban and rural settlements (Article 61). For the first time, the Law determined the legal status of the Red Books of the Russian Federation and its constituent entities, and the Red Books of Soils of the Russian Federation and its constituent entities.
Specially protected natural areas (SPNA) are areas of land or water surface that, due to their environmental and other significance, are completely or partially withdrawn from economic use and for which a special protection regime has been established.
The Law on Protected Natural Areas was adopted by the State Duma on February 15, 1995. According to it, protected natural areas are intended to maintain ecological balance, preserve the genetic diversity of natural resources, most fully reflect the biogeocenotic diversity of the country's biomes, study the evolution of ecosystems and the influence of anthropogenic factors on them, as well as to solve various economic and social tasks.
According to this law “On Specially Protected Natural Territories”, the following main categories of these territories are distinguished:
a) state natural reserves, including biosphere reserves;
b) national parks;
c) natural parks;
d) state nature reserves;
e) natural monuments;
f) dendrological parks and botanical gardens.
Having briefly described each category of territory, I will give a full description of the first.
And so, national parks are relatively large natural territories and water areas, where three main goals are ensured: environmental (maintaining ecological balance and preserving natural ecosystems), recreational (regulated tourism and recreation of people) and scientific (development and implementation of methods for preserving the natural complex under conditions of mass admission of visitors). The most famous national parks are “Losiny Ostrov” (district of St. Petersburg), “Sochi”, “Elbrus”, “Valdai”, “Russian North”.
Natural parks are areas of particular ecological and aesthetic value, with a relatively mild protection regime and used primarily for organized recreation of the population. The most famous are “Russian Forest” in the Moscow region; "Turgoyak" in the Chelyabinsk region, on the shore of Lake Turgoyak. It was to this lake that my friends and I went on vacation last summer and visited the natural park. Tent tourism, bicycle tourism, and excursions to the island of “St. Helena” are developed there. There are pine forests all around, clean air. I really liked it.
The next category - state natural reserves - are territories created for a certain period (in some cases permanently) to preserve or restore natural complexes or their components and maintain ecological balance. Preserve and restore the population density of one or more species of animals or plants, as well as natural landscapes, water bodies, etc. Example: the Vienna Forest nature reserve in the Tikhvin district of the Leningrad region.
Natural monuments are unique, non-reproducible natural objects that have scientific, environmental, cultural and aesthetic value (caves, small tracts, ancient trees, rocks, waterfalls, etc.). An example is: the Kivach waterfall on the river. Sune (Karelia); rock "Brothers" (Altai Mountains); dark bark birch (in Lebyazhyevsky district); Rocky outcrops (Northern Urals).
Dendrological parks and botanical gardens are environmental institutions whose task is to create a collection of trees and shrubs for the purpose of preserving biodiversity and enriching the flora, as well as for scientific, educational, cultural and educational purposes.
And finally, State Nature Reserves are areas of territory that are completely withdrawn from normal economic use in order to preserve the natural complex in its natural state.
The basis of nature conservation work is based on the following basic principles:
Creation in reserves of conditions necessary for the conservation and development of all species of animals and plants;
Maintaining the ecological balance of landscapes by protecting natural ecosystems;
The opportunity to study the evolution of natural ecosystems, both regionally and in broader biogeographical terms; solve many autecological and synecological issues (i.e., individual individuals and communities of organisms);
Inclusion in the scope of activities of nature reserves of socio-economic issues related to meeting the recreational, local history and other needs of the population.
The foundations of conservation in Russia were laid by such scientists as I. P. Borodin, G. A. Kozhevnikov, A. P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky, D. K. Solovyov.
The reserves have become the basis for the conservation, reproduction and elimination of the threat of extinction of many rare species of plants and animals such as beaver, wild ass, bison, sika deer, tiger, leopard, sable, common eider, flamingo, etc.
Zoological and botanical research is carried out in the reserves; For operational analysis of air, water, and soil, mini-laboratories are being created, weather stations and weather posts are functioning.
In 2006, there were about 100 state nature reserves in Russia with a total area of 33.7 million hectares, which is less than 2% of the entire territory of Russia.
To smooth out the influence of adjacent territories, especially in areas with well-developed infrastructure, protected zones are created around nature reserves where economic activity is limited.
Among Russian nature reserves, a special place is occupied by biosphere reserves, which are part of the global network of UNESCO biosphere reserves. Six of them have integrated background monitoring stations that provide data on chemical pollution of reference protected ecosystems. A number of reserves have nurseries in which the most valuable gene pool is preserved, rare species of animals are studied and bred.
The largest reserves are Taimyrsky and Ust-Lensky, the area of each of them exceeds 1.5 million hectares. The Teberda, Altai, Kronotsky (Kamchatka), Voronezh reserves, as well as the Ilmensky reserve are unique in the diversity of flora and fauna.
More than 1,100 species of higher plants grow in the Teberda Nature Reserve, including 186 species endemic to the Caucasus. There are 137 species of vertebrates.
The Altai Nature Reserve is home to 1,500 species of vascular plants, 73 species of mammals, 310 species of birds, 10 species of amphibians and reptiles. In the alpine belt there are snow leopards - snow leopards (listed in the Red Book), Siberian mountain goats, and argali.
In the Kronotsky Nature Reserve there are 30 species of mammals and more than 130 species of birds. The most valuable inhabitant is the Kamchatka sable.
In the Voronezh Nature Reserve, river beaver stocks are being restored. Also protected are European deer, elk, roe deer, martens, etc.
The Ilmensky Nature Reserve in the Southern Urals is unique. Ilmeny is a natural geological museum. More than 250 minerals have been discovered here, from common to rare ones. A wide variety of flora and fauna. This is not all that I was able to give as an example. In addition to these, there are many more reserves.
Nature, both living and inanimate, is a huge value on our planet. We are in excellent living conditions. If you look at the planets closest to us, the large difference in appearance between the Earth and the other planets is impressive. A huge volume of clean fresh and salt water of the oceans, a life-giving atmosphere, fertile soils. The richness of the plant world that surrounds almost our entire planet, as well as the animal diversity, is surprising: it is impossible to study all types of living beings in a person’s lifetime.
However, it is precisely such diversity and such environmental conditions that are necessary for the harmonious state of the entire planet, for the balance of substances on it.
Harmony of nature
People, through their activities, transform nature more than any other type of organism. Moreover, other organisms have so merged with the natural environment that they even help maintain the original balance on the planet. For example, a lion hunting an antelope is likely to catch the weakest individual, thereby maintaining the survival of the herbivore population. An earthworm, making numerous holes in the soil, does not spoil the fertile surface layer. It loosens the soil so that the air can better reach the roots of the plants.
Economic activity of Homo sapiens
A person has a developed brain. The development of human economic activity is proceeding at a faster pace than the evolutionary processes of nature. She does not have time to adapt to the changes caused by people.
Many years ago, the population of Australia overgrazed livestock on the small continent. According to this hypothesis, numerous deserts of the continent were formed precisely because of human activity.
Since ancient times, trees have been intensively cut down for the construction of houses. Nowadays, forests are shrinking just as quickly: we still use wood for various purposes.
The planet's population is huge and, according to scientists, will grow at an even faster rate. If people populate or use the entire area of the planet for farming, then nature, of course, will not withstand such a load.
History of protected natural areas
Already in ancient times, people kept untouched certain areas of the territory in which they lived. People's faith in gods made them tremble before sacred places. There was no need to even protect such areas; the people themselves treated these sacred territories with care, believing in something mysterious.
In the era of feudalism, the lands of the nobility came first in terms of inviolability. The possessions were guarded. In such territories, hunting was prohibited, or even simply visiting other people's forests or other biotope was prohibited.
In the nineteenth century, the Industrial Revolution made people think seriously about preserving natural resources for future generations. Protected areas are being created in Europe. The first of the specially protected natural areas were natural monuments. Ancient beech forests and some attractions, such as unusual geological objects, were preserved.
In Russia, the first protected areas were organized at the end of the 19th century. They were not yet state owned.
What is a protected area
These are areas of land or water where human economic activity is partially or completely prohibited. How does the abbreviation stand for? As "specially protected natural areas".
Types of protected areas according to IUCN
Nowadays there are about 105,000 specially protected natural areas on the planet. For such a number of objects, classification is necessary. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has identified the following types of protected areas:
- Strict nature reserve. The security of such a territory is especially strict; all economic activities are prohibited. Visit only with a document permitting you to be on the site. The nature of this territory is the most holistic.
- National Park. It is divided into areas with strict security and areas where tourist routes are laid.
- Natural monument. An unusual, well-known natural site is being protected.
- Managed nature reserve. The state takes care of the conservation of species of living organisms and biotopes for their habitat. A person introduces activities to help in fairly rapid reproduction and maintenance of offspring.
- Protected marine and territorial landscapes. Recreational facilities are preserved.
- Protected areas with monitoring of resource consumption. It is possible to use natural resources if the activity does not cause major changes to the site.
Types of protected areas according to the law of the Russian Federation
In the Russian Federation a simpler classification is used. Types of protected areas in Russia:
- State nature reserve. The strictest security regime is maintained. Visit only for the purpose of conservation work or education in the area.
- National Park. It is divided into ecological zones based on the possibility of using natural resources. Ecotourism has been developed in some areas. There are work areas for national park staff. There may be areas for recreation for the population, as well as for overnight stays for visitors passing the tourist route.
- Natural park. It is created to preserve ecosystems in conditions of mass recreation of the population. New methods of nature conservation are being developed.
- State nature reserve. Natural resources are not only preserved, but also restored. The reserve is actively working to restore the former natural wealth of the area. Ecotourism possible.
- Natural monument. Significant natural or man-made natural complex. Unique education.
- Dendrological parks and botanical gardens. Collections of plant species are created in the territories in order to preserve the species diversity of the planet and replenish lost species of land.
Wrangel Island
The UNESCO World Heritage Sites include 8 sites located on the territory of the Russian Federation. One of these protected areas is the Wrangel Island Nature Reserve.
The protected area is located in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. This is the northernmost of all protected natural areas in Russia. The protected area consists of two islands (Wrangel and Herald) and the adjacent water area. The area of protected areas is more than two million hectares.
The reserve was organized in 1976 to preserve typical and unique flora and fauna. Nature, due to the location of the islands far from the mainland and due to the harsh climate, is preserved almost untouched. Scientists come to the site to study local ecosystems. Thanks to the creation of the reserve, rare animals such as the polar bear and walrus are protected. A huge number of endemic species live in this area.
The islands are home to local people. It has the right to use natural resources, but to a strictly limited extent.
Lake Baikal
The most valuable lake in the world is also a World Natural Heritage Site. The PA data system is the largest reservoir of clean fresh water.
The huge number of endemic species surprises scientists. More than half of the animals and plants growing here are found only on Lake Baikal. There are about a thousand endemic species in total. Of these, 27 species of fish. The Baikal omul and golomyanka are well known. All nematodes living in the lake are endemic. The water in Baikal is purified by the crustacean epishura, which also lives only in this lake.
It makes up 80% of the biomass of plankton of animal origin.
Baikal was included in the World Natural Heritage List in 1996. The Baikal Nature Reserve itself was founded in 1969.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site “Lake Baikal” consists of 8 protected areas located directly next to the famous lake. Many scientists are confident that Baikal is expanding every year, increasing its water area due to the drift of lithospheric plates.
Kronotsky Reserve
Another example of a protected area is the Kronotsky State Natural Biosphere Reserve. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Volcanoes of Kamchatka.
Moreover, this protected area is a biosphere reserve. UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Program identifies protected areas around the world that are almost untouched by human activity. The state is obliged to preserve a self-regulating natural system if the object is located on its territory.
The Kronotsky Nature Reserve is one of the earliest in Russia. In 1882, the Sable Nature Reserve was located on this territory. Kronotsky State Nature Reserve was created in 1934. In addition to the territory with numerous volcanoes, hot springs and geysers, the Kronotsky Nature Reserve includes a significant area of water.
Currently, tourism is actively developing in the Kronotsky Nature Reserve. Visiting him was not allowed at all times.
Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve
Another example of a protected area in Russia is the Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve. This is the first nature reserve in the Far East. He is also one of the oldest in Russia. The Far Eastern leopard lives here, a rare subspecies of leopards whose numbers have declined in the past. Now it is in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, has the status of “endangered”.
The reserve itself was created for the conservation and research of liana coniferous-deciduous forests. The massifs are not disturbed by anthropogenic influence. There are many endemic species here.
Losiny Ostrov National Park
One of the very first in Russia. Founded in 1983 on the territory of Moscow and the Moscow region.
Includes 5 zones: reserved (access is closed), specially protected (visit with permission), protection of historical and cultural monuments (visits are allowed), recreational (occupies more than half the area, free visit) and economic (ensures the operation of the park).
Legislation of the Russian Federation
The Federal Law on Protected Natural Areas (1995) states that protected areas must have federal, regional or local significance. Nature reserves and national parks always have federal significance.
Any reserve, national park, natural park and natural monument must have a protection zone. It additionally protects the object from destructive anthropogenic influence. The boundaries of protected areas, as well as the boundaries of the protective zone, are determined by the legislation of the Russian Federation.
Anyone can visit the protected zone. However, she is also under guard.
The lands of protected areas are a national property. It is prohibited to build houses, roads, or cultivate land on federal sites.
To create protected areas, the government reserves new lands. Further, such lands are declared protected areas. In this case, the law prohibits future cultivation of the land in this area.
Protected areas are an important component of our planet. Such territories preserve priceless wealth for subsequent generations. The balance of the biosphere is maintained and the gene pool of living organisms is protected. The inanimate nature of such territories is also preserved: valuable water resources, geological formations.
Specially protected natural areas have not only environmental significance, but also scientific, as well as environmental and educational significance. It is at such sites that the most educational tourism for nature lovers is organized.
The world's population is growing at an ever faster pace. Humanity needs to think more actively about maintaining nature and take a more responsible approach to preserving natural resources. Every person should think about this and contribute to maintaining the health of the planet.
On the territory of the Russian Federation, all natural lands are subject to protection, regardless of their purpose. But there are territories that are protected especially carefully.
These include:
- Land plots on which the cultural, natural or historical heritage of specially protected areas (SPAs) is located.
- Lands and fauna of specially protected natural areas (SPNA).
What's the difference?
PAs are lands that have some value, be it historical, cultural or natural.
Lands of specially protected natural areas (SPNA) are, in fact, a type of protected area. These are mineral deposits that contain rich natural value.
Why allocate a ZOO
Due to the fact that there are natural areas where many rare plants grow or unique animals are found, it was decided to take them under special control.
Due to the threat of mass destruction of vegetation or animals in such places, hunting, agricultural activities, and even more so deforestation and the construction of residential buildings are prohibited. The concept of specially protected natural areas includes not only land, but also water bodies and airspace.
Reserved natural land: description
A specially protected natural area is not only land, but also bodies of water, and even the air space above them, where there are unique natural objects that need protection.
Such areas are a national property and cannot be sold to a private person or rented out.
All activities on these lands, with the exception of the study, preservation and enhancement of specimens located there, are prohibited. For the normal functioning of life, a specially protected natural area presupposes the absence, even within reach, of harmful emissions, and a ban on the construction of industrial plants. All activities that negatively affect the natural objects of protected areas are prohibited.
The boundaries of protected lands are necessarily marked with special signs.
Types of specially protected natural areas
With various features of natural objects, their status and the presence of erected buildings on the territory, protected areas are divided into certain types and categories.
- Natural State Parks.
- Natural untouched reserves.
- Monuments of living nature.
- National parks.
- Arboretums and botanical gardens.
- Medical and health resorts.
In a certain area, local government decrees may establish other categories of specially protected natural areas - this is a kind of subtype of the basis of the territory, distinguished by certain characteristics.
Regardless of the status of the land (all-Russian or local), the rules for its use do not differ.
Specially protected natural areas of Russia are subject to preservation and enhancement. All activities carried out on these lands are permitted only subject to this requirement.
Pristine reserve
The reserve is a specially protected natural area, which is distinguished by its pristine nature. Everything here has not been touched by human hands and is in the same condition as Mother Nature created.
For land to become a nature reserve, it must meet a number of requirements:
- To be as little affected by civilization as possible.
- Have unique plants and rare species of animals on your territory.
- Earths are self-regulating and not subject to self-destruction.
- They have a rare landscape.
It is the reserves that are a traditional species and are designated as specially protected natural areas of Russia as an example of pristineness and originality.
As of 2000, 99 protected areas were designated in the Russian Federation. Scientific research, educational and environmental work are carried out on their territory.
Natural monuments
These are unique natural objects that cannot be recreated through human efforts.
Such natural objects may be under federal or regional jurisdiction. It all depends on the value of the natural monument.
As a rule, such objects are classified as regional assets. They are essentially the pride of the region where they are located.
Today, there are 28 such unique corners of nature of federal significance; they occupy an area of more than 19 thousand hectares.
There are much more regional unique natural areas, and they are divided into types:
- Biological, including interesting plants and animals.
- Hydrological are peculiar reservoirs and rare aquatic plants and animals.
- Geological - includes unique lands.
- Complex - corners of nature that combine two or more types of rare natural objects.
Nature reserves
Natural reserves are specially protected natural areas where endangered plants and animals are subject to preservation and restoration.
It happens that land is declared a natural reserve, but it is leased to a private person. In this case, the issue of withdrawal or abandonment of the lease is decided, taking into account what activities are carried out by the owner in the given territory.
Wildlife sanctuaries as specially protected natural areas have different meanings:
- Landscape - created for restoration
- Biological - in their territories, biologists are trying to preserve and increase endangered animals and plants.
- Paleontological - fossil objects are especially protected here.
- Hydrological - based on the conservation of reservoirs, lakes and water bodies.
National parks
This meaning includes the concept of lands with special natural, aesthetic or cultural value. used for scientific observations, and also organize cultural recreation for people.
The entire world community has recognized the enormous benefits of creating such protected lands.
There are three national parks in the Russian Federation included in the World Cultural Heritage. Two of them - Transbaikalsky and Pribaikalsky - are also included in the special protected zone of Lake Baikal.
Arboretums and botanical gardens
Recently, arboretums have been actively increasing and expanding. This is due to the development of resort areas and the emergence of an increasing number of health institutions operating in environmentally friendly conditions.
Botanical gardens are dedicated to the conservation of rare and endangered plant species. In addition, various experiments are carried out there aimed at protecting endangered species.
Arboretums are used for educational purposes. On their territory they conduct educational excursions, telling and showing people all kinds of strange trees, shrubs and herbs.
In addition to educational tasks, arboretums have as their goal the cultivation and preservation of all the beauty of Russian nature that can only be captured in a given area.
As you can see, there are many protected lands, they all have different names, but the goals of specially protected natural areas are almost the same - preservation and enhancement of natural objects, observation of the natural course of events, scientific and educational activities.
